Ball practicing device



June 7, 1932. T. M. WHITE 1,862,044

BALL PRACTICING DEVICE Filed March 5, 1929 .Zpgo zo INVENTOR. 7PM/vas Ml/l/H/ rE 1% )00 A TTORNE YS.

Patented .lune 7, 1932 momes M. WHITE, or wenn, CALIFORNIA* V BALI.PRAGTICING DEVICE Application led March 5, 19729. Serial No. 344,485.

An object of my invention is to provide` a device for practicing the artof striking a ball, whereby one may be taught to swing a bat, a golfclub or the like, in the proper manner.

A further object of my invention is to provide novel means for swinginga ball to a position where it may be successively struck several times,and I lfurther provide means for returning the ball to its originalposition.

Moreover, I propose to make the ball-supporting means adjustable, so asto permit the device to be conveniently used by personsof differentheights, or for different types of games.

A further object is to provide a device of the type described which issimple in construction, durable and efficient for the purpose intended.

Other objects and their advantages will appear as the specificationproceeds, and the novel features of my invention will be particularlypointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accom* panying drawing forming a partof this application, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device;

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure l; l

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical section of the upper portion ofFigure 1; and

Figure 4 is a modification of my invention.

In carrying my invention into practice, I.

provide a base 1 with a threaded recess 2 for receiving a standard 3.The upper end of the standard has an arm 4 extending therefromsubstantially at a right angle to the aXis of the standard. The end ofthe arm has a ball 5 suspended therefrom by a means of a flexible cord6. Referring now to Figures 1 and 3, it will be noted that the standard3 has a bore 7 extending the entire length thereof. The arm 4 terminatesin a leg 8, which is slidably and adjustably received in the standard.

The end of the standard remote from the base is threaded as at 9 forremovably `receiving a housing 10, the latter being vcovered by a cap10(l The interior of the housing is formed with arecess 11, inwhich isdis.-

posed a set-collar 12 that embraces-the legv 8. rIlhe screw 13 ofthecollar may be adjusted by inserting a screw driver through an opening14.

It is thus apparent from the vparts just dea scribed that thejball 5 maybe raised or lowered with respect to the ground 15 by first turning thevscrew 13, and then sliding the leg 8 within the standard 3 until thedesired level is obtained. Furtherl adjustment may beV accomplished thecord 6.

I have also provided means for permitting the end 16 of the arm todescriben-'circular path aroundthe housing 10; This is accom plished byproviding a bearing 17 that is supported within the housing 10 by aledge 18, the race 19 ofthe bearing being frictionally secured lto theleg 8.

' Figure 3 disc-loses the leg 8l as having a slot 20 extendinglongitudinally thereof for a considerable distance. Vithinf the housing10, Ihave arranged a spiral-shaped spring 21, one end of the springbeing secured to the housing as at 22, while the opposite end is bentinwardly and is received in the slot 20. This construction ypermits theleg to be adj usted axially without disturbing the spring.

If'we now assume that the ball 5 is struck by a tennis racket or a bat,the movementV of the ball first tends to swing the cord 6 in a circularpath about the end 16V of the arm. Further swinging of the ball willthen tend to swing the arm 4 and to swing the cord 6 into a positionwhere it will coincide with the longitudinal 'axis of the arm 4. Whenthe ball'is in this position, the arm will be rotated through severalrevolutions before comes to. a stop. It should be appreciated that theperson practicing with mydevice is given the opportunity of striking theball each timeit passes around the standard.

As the ball is rotated around the standard, the spring 21 is tensioned,and assoon as the operator stops striking the ball, the spring willimmediately be free to rotate the by changing the length of vbase 1 Whenmotion is imparted to it by a armA in the opposite direction until theball returns to its original position.

I have provided a snap-hook 22 at the end of the cord 6 in order thatthe-ball 5 may be replaced by some one type of a ball if the operator sodesires.

The modificationr as shown in Figure 4 shows the standard 3 as beingremoved from the threaded recess 2 and as being replaced by'a head 2 3.rl`he head 23 has a ring 24 encircling it, the ring having the end 25 ofa iiexible cord 26`secured thereto. A golf ball 27 is attached to theopposite end of the cord f 26 in any desired Way. n The ball 27 iscaused to rotate around the golf club.

arranged to swing in a'horizontal plane, a ball, means for suspendingthe ball from the free end of the member With freedom of swinging motionin a vertical plane, and yielding means for returning the member to itsoriginal position after the ball is struck.

'II-IOBIAS M. WHITE.

Themodified form of invention is particularly Well adapted for assistingone in learning golf.

Referring again to Figure l, it Will be noticed that I have arranged aneyelet 28 on a rotatable ring 29 to which may be secured the cord 26.The cord 26 may be removed from the device as shown in Figure 1, or itmay be permanently attached thereto. n

While I have shown only the preferred formsof my invention, I Wish it tobe understood that various changes or modifications may be made Withinthe scope of the claims Without departing from the spirit of theinvention. v Y

I claim:

l. A'ball-practicing device comprising a standard, a rotatable membersecured thereto, a ball, means connecting said ball to said rotatablemember, said ball being svvingable around said standard When caused tomove, and means for returning said ball to its original position.

2. A ball-practicing device comprising a standard, an arm extending fromsaid standard, said arm being adjustable axially of said standardY androtatably disposed therein, a ball suspended from the end of said arm,and means for returning said arm to its original position after saidball is caused to move.

.3. A ball-practicing device comprising a standard, an arm rotatablydisposed in said standard and extending therefrom, a ball suspended fromthe end of said arm, and yielding meansy for returning said arm to itsoriginal position after said ball is caused to move.

4. A ball-practicing device comprising a standard, a rotatable armdisposed in said standard and extending therefrom, means for adjustingsaid arm longitudinally of said standard, and a spring for returningsaid arm to its original position after the arm is caused to move. I

5. A ball practice device comprising a vertically arranged Standard, anL-shaped member having one of its legs telescopically 1 mounted with thestandard and the other leg IHS

